Kaneta Zillur
Kaneta Zillur is a Research Consultant at Power and Participation Research Centre.
Why did you choose to study economics?
I was inspired by my father. He is an Economist and policymaker based in Bangladesh. From a very early age, he encouraged me to think outside of the box and we would have compelling discussions about the socio-economic issues plaguing the world. I chose to study Economics because I wanted to continue having these discussions and seeking answers to the economic problems we face.
How would you describe economics?
While many will argue that Economics is a science based on mathematics, I prefer to describe it as a study of human behavior and choice from the micro to the macro level. In recent times, the definition of Economics has evolved and there is increasing emphasis on not only the data but also the stories and people behind the data.
If you had a time machine and could meet your 16-year-old self, what advice would you give them?
Data is so important to the field of Economics and the ability to derive answers from that data is equally important. I would tell my younger self to spend more time on learning programming languages like Python and R.
What is your favourite part of economics?
I love that studying Economics opens up doors to so many different sectors - politics, financial sector, development sector. This gave me less anxiety when choosing the subject because I knew I would not be restricted to any one field.
Is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?
I would be more confident about being a woman in economics. Harmful stereotypes can often discourage students, especially girls, from pursuing a subject like Economics.